californian dreamin'

While skipping through rocks in La Jolla, CA, one can find some furry friends or ones with gooey tentacles. Either way, it's a great way to spend they day until the sun begins to set and the chill comes in. Then it's time to head to a cozy cafe and enjoy great food, great friends, and great times. 

rapid cart.

Look at this great new feature from Artfire!!

brokenhallelujah

Buy Handmade

It's called Rapid Cart, and it allows you to post items from your Artfire store on your blog or social networking site so that people can purchase the items right then in there - IN 28 SECONDS! You don't have to have an Artfire account or even visit my Artfire shop homepage. It's a great great new feature that I think will revolutionize the way people shop handmade. I can definitely see myself using. You can only use it if you are verified member which only costs $7 a month, but will soon be raised to $20 so be sure to get your account now if you are a handmade product seller. (P.S. Be sure to leave 'brokenhallelujah' as your referrer.)

san diego.

I'm currently in San Diego with Andy and my family right now. It's a vacation/scoping out possible grad schools trip that has mostly been vacation. Been here for a couple days now - been to the beach, the zoo, the aquarium, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, and the Gaslamp district downtown which means there are lots more pictures to come. I return home next Tuesday, so for the rest of my time here there will be a whale watching trip, visiting family, and maybe a bit of geo-caching with a family friend.

Although being here reminds me a bit of my graduate school state of limbo currently (haven't heard from any of my schools, yes or no, yet), I still think I needed a little bit of vacation so I wasn't just in front of my computer waiting, waiting.

getting a-HEAD of myself..

Lilac and Teal Crochet Headband

Available now. Click here for more info. 

It always seems like I've got tidbits of yarn left over from my other projects, but they aren't enough for a hat or slippers. The colors are so fun and I hate to throw large scraps away, so I decided to try some out a new headband pattern. And I'm pretty proud of how they turned out, so there's more to come in a rainbow of colors. Have a specific color you'd like to see? Let me know. 

star gazer.

Star Burst Mary Jane Slippers

Now available. Click here for more info.

Something new in the shop: bright and cheery! These mary jane slippers are in wonderful bright orange with yellow star appliques on the toes. 

crochet amaze

Whenever I tell someone I crochet their first reaction seems to mix me up with knitters. I'm always asked if I make sweaters, socks, and other knitting cliches. I always try to explain politely that although you can make those things with crochet, it usually isn't as common as with knitting. So, of course, the next question is "What do you make with crochet, then?" While I think crochet is most commonly associated with lace, and sometimes scarves and hats, people always seem amazed that crochet can make something as fun and stylish as this: 

Crochet Hobo Purse in Robin's Egg Blue

Available at Artfire or Etsy

Crochet can make some fun things! And just because the art of crocheting goes back pretty far, doesn't mean you can't make stuff that's cool today! Crochet doesn't have to be lace doilies. It could be fun, fuzzy, mary jane slippers.

Strawberry Champagne Mary Jane Slippers

Available on Etsy

I always like to see the surprise on people's faces when they realize just how fun crochet can be and some of the great things you can make with it that aren't completely traditional. Exploring and pushing your craft to new limits is always one of the best parts of crafting to me! So get inspired and see what you can make today!

artfire.

Broken Hallelujah has joined artfire! It's a great new handmade site that is growing and it's growing fast. And you can join now, too. There are two options for selling on artfire - free and premium. Free allows you to sell with no fees, but only 10 items at a time. Premium, however costs only $7 a month with no selling or transaction fees. Plus, if you refer 10 people to artfire you'll get your premium account free for life! 

So what are you waiting for? Artfire is the next best thing in selling handmade online! Use the link below and get started on artfire right away. (Plus, it gives me a referral!)

Register on ArtFire.com

sweetest things.

My slippers are featured in this great treasury! It's full of everything pink and fluffy. How perfect! Be sure to drop by, check it out, and leave a comment!

slouchy

   Who ever said it wasn't correct to slouch? With these new slouchy berets that I've added to the shop I think the slouch is coming back! These are just two of the new fun crochet hats I've added to the shop lately. There's lots of other fun colors available for you to rock the slouch in your favorite color. And if you don't see your favorite color, let me know and I'd love to work with you on your own custom hat.  Also, if you're a fan of the custom purse I blogged about before, keep your eye here for an update about a purse you can call your own coming soon. I, also, would like to thank everyone who's left a comment on my blog lately, new and old! It's so great to hear from you all and you are so nice with all the great compliments you leave. I wish I could answer you all, but I don't think blogger comments let me to contact you on a one-on-one basis so I've tried to visit you all and let you know I appreciate the kind words you've left. Thanks to you all!

fresh

One of my favorite things about etsy is taking custom orders. This purse is one I finished this weekend and just shipped off to far away Finland! Custom orders always brings a freshness to my creations - new ideas, colors, and designs. It's always refreshing to hear what people would like that I am not already producing. It can open my eyes to color combinations or designs I would never have tried on my own. 

I love custom orders, and now without school I have a lot more time to work on them. So if you have a new idea for one of my items, send it my way! I'd love to hear from you even if you don't want an item for yourself. Crafters live off of new, fresh ideas!